Chestnut offers prevention programs for youth in the following areas:

• Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Education
  • Babes - A 5-session puppet program for young children focusing on alcohol and other drug information, resistance skills, peer pressure, and decision-making.
  • Marijuana Education - A program focusing on increasing the perception of harm from marijuana use, based on our understanding that use increases as perception of harm decreases. The program can be adapted for grades 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9.
  • Basics - Half-day ATOD education program for juvenile first offenders. This program is set up with local communities and police departments. Topics include drug information, legal issues, symptoms of addiction, and local resources for getting help with problems. A parent education session is provided.

• Life Skills
  • Life Skill Education - Eight session program for adolescents on topics such as decision-making, communication, peer pressure, stress management, and conflict resolution.
  • Peace-Making - A multi-session cultural diversity and violence prevention program for youth in 1st and 2nd grades.
  • Youth & the Media - Education on how advertising affects decisions related to the use of alcohol and tobacco.
  • Dating Violence Prevention - Three session interactive program for middle school and high school students which provides comprehensive information on healthy relationships, abusive behaviors, safety planning, and the role of violence in our society.

• Peer Leadership Training
  • Alpha - Peer Leadership training for junior and senior high school students. Peers are trained to present substance abuse and prevention information to younger youth.
  • TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Use) Training - Peer Leadership training for middle school students, who are trained to present lessons to younger students on such topics as: the history of tobacco use and legislation, tobacco advertising, and the health risks related to tobacco use.
  • Madison County Youth Board - A collaboration of county youth peer leaders.
  • Madison County Youth Forum - A project wherein youth join to discuss prevention issues and to develop recommendations. They present their recommendations during an evening speak-out session to a panel of community professionals, including law enforcement, elected officials, educators, parents, and representatives of social service agencies.
  • Camp Success - Weeklong camps, one for middle school and one for high school students, staffed by peer leaders, educators, and agency volunteers. The purpose of the camp is to improve the average student's academic skills, self-esteem, and ATOD knowledge.

• Automotive Safety
  • Drinking and Driving - Information on alcohol and the effects of other drugs on driving skills.